Cricket-Australia strike player deal, cut central contracts

June 22, 2012|Reuters

SYDNEY, June 22 (Reuters) - Cricket Australia have avoidedthe potential embarrassment of a strike by agreeing a new'memorandum of understanding' with the players, albeit one whichcuts the number of centrally contracted players from 25 to 17.

There had been rumblings about the possibility of a strikeduring protracted negotiations over the new deal, whichdetermines the proportion of Cricket Australia's revenue thatgoes to the players.

The new deal, which was announced on Friday and will run forfive years, features a reduction in the number of playerscontracted for the national team but an expansion of playerscontracted by each of the states from 15 to 20.

The national selectors will be able to add players to thelist, which is expected to form the basis of Australia's teamsin all three formats of the game, "as and when performancewarrants", chief selector John Inverarity said.

"The list of 17 players is brim full of talent, rawenthusiasm and determination to enhance the performance andreputation of Australian cricket," he said in a news release.

"In addition, there are a number of very good and highlyregarded players who (we) have considerable faith in - and hopesfor - who didn't, on this occasion, 'make the cut' for thecontract list of 17.

Batsman Bailey captained Australia's Twenty20 side in twomatches against India earlier this year and might have beenexpected to have won a contract given the World Cup in theshortest form of the game takes place later this year.

There were no major surprises in those contracted, althoughformer captain Ricky Ponting and experienced wicketkeeper BradHaddin might be considered fortunate to still qualify for theterms, which offer a basic salary of A$230,000 ($232,900).

Ponting was told earlier this year that his days as aone-day international were over, while Haddin has been usurpedbehind the stumps by Matthew Wade for the two shorter forms ofthe game and missed the recent tests in West Indies for personalreasons.

Wade, opener David Warner, spinner Nathan Lyon and pacebowler Mitchell Starc were the four new players added to thelist compared to last year.

Those losing their central contracts included openersPhillip Hughes and Shaun Marsh as well as top order batsmanUsman Khawaja, former Australia Twenty20 captain Cameron Whiteand pace bowlers Brett Lee and Doug Bollinger.

Australia are currently in England for five one-dayinternationals and they will face South Africa and Sri Lanka inthree-test series on home soil at the end of the year.